Charles d'Angelo: You Are What You Think

Charles D�Angelo�s new book, Think and Grow Thin: The
Revolutionary Diet and Weight-Loss System That Will Change Your
Life in 90 Days.

Entire bookstore aisles are devoted to the subject, and every
January those aisles are populated by people seeking help with a
New Year’s resolution, perhaps the same one they’ve made for many
years.

But while there is no shortage of how-to books about weight
loss, there has never been a definitive solution for the millions
of people struggling to lose weight, whether it’s 10 pounds or 110.
“Something’s been missing out there—in the diet books, the exercise
DVDs, the programs,” says weight loss coach Charles D’Angelo. “It’s
like a jigsaw puzzle: people have all these puzzle pieces, but
they’re missing the lid to the box. They don’t have the picture of
how it’s all supposed to go together.”

D’Angelo’s system, recommended by a number of local physicians
(some of whom are successful graduates) teaches people how to bring
all the pieces together. “By defining the whole picture, and
explaining exactly what you need to do, you change your mindset and
learn how to think about food and exercise the right way,” he says.
D’Angelo says what people struggle with most is their own belief
system. “They label themselves as an undisciplined fat person, and
because they buy into that label, it becomes very difficult to
operate outside of it,” he explains. “Once you make the connection
in your head— I’m a fit person, but I’m carrying around a lot
of extra weight—you’ve begun to change the mindset that’s held
you back.” For most people, he adds, weight is circumstantial.
“Being healthy is a result of consistently taking responsibility
and controling your behaviors.” Changing the way a person thinks is
the core of D’Angelo’s new book, Think and Grow Thin: The
Revolutionary Diet and Weight-Loss System That Will Change Your
Life in 90 Days! “It’s not a diet book,” he emphasizes. “This
is a system of learning how to think about food, exercise and most
important, yourself.” The book, currently available in stores, is
endorsed by former president Bill Clinton and others.

Five years in the making, his new book reflects D’Angelo’s own
painful struggle with obesity. “This is coming from a guy who’s
been there. By the time I was 17 years old, I weighed 360 pounds,”
he says. “I was always ‘different’ as a child. I was bullied and
took comfort in food, which led to obesity and just exacerbated the
bullying.” D’Angelo believes his ultimate victory over his weight
gives him a unique perspective. “I’ve been to the dark side,” he
laughs. “And lived to tell the tale.” It’s truly moving, D’Angelo
says, to be able to help people with similar struggles. “I’ve had
young people come to me on the brink of suicide because they have
been so ostracized and bullied for being different.”

The mindset change that leads to successful weight loss is a
lifelong change, D’Angelo says. “It’s not like people come to me,
lose the weight, and now they can eat what they want and never
worry again.” He compares the process to fine-tuning a piano.
“Think of a baby grand,” he says. “Sometimes the strings become
weakened and have to be pulled taut again. It’s the same with
weight loss. A person doesn’t have to come to me to have that done,
but many do.”

D’Angelo’s roster of success stories includes Sen. Claire
McCaskill, who recently lost 50 pounds through his personal
coaching. And although many of his clients are politicians, he
jokes that there’s no particular agenda. “This is a completely
non-partisan effort! It’s all about anyone becoming the best they
can be.”